Installing a surround sound system in your home lets you enjoy a more realistic sound out of your entertainment. However, you need to ensure that you have the proper setup to reap the benefits. Continue reading to explore different tips for wiring a home surround sound system to help you with your installation.
Plan It Out in Advance
Research in advance what kind of cables your equipment needs and have everything together before you lift a single screwdriver. You don’t want to be rushing for cords you didn’t realize you needed at the last minute or having to entirely change your meticulously assembled setup because you need to connect a different cable. You should also ensure you’re choosing wires that are long enough to reach everything while giving yourself more room to work with than you think necessary to account for slack, unexpected obstacles, installation errors, etc.
Safety Should Be Your Number One Priority
Always take the proper precautions before connecting anything in, dealing with electrical equipment, installing anything, or engaging in other potentially harmful tasks. Only use cables and wires that adhere to national safety standards and feature resistance to fire, chemicals, abrasion, temperature variations, and more.
Use the Proper Thickness for Cabling
The most significant component of a speaker cable is its thickness or gauge, which is measured in AWG (American Wire Gauge); The more prominent and thicker the wire is, the lower the speaker gauge number. A 16-gauged wire is what you’ll typically use. However, if you need more than 50-feet of wiring or install in-wall or ceiling speakers, you may need to utilize a stronger wire (ideally 14 or 12-gauge), as extended cable lengths can result in significant energy losses.
Label Each and Every Wire
Eventually, you may need to alter your surround sound setup, and it can be an absolute nightmare if you can’t remember what each cord connects to or is supposed to do. Make sure you label each end of the cable with color-coded tags and that the labels are attached at a reasonable distance so you can cut or trim them in the future when necessary. When you’ve correctly labeled each wire, you or someone else working on the system can easily and quickly find exactly which cable you’re looking for.
We hope these tips for wiring a home surround sound system help you complete your setup. CableWholesale offers everything you need to set up entertainment systems, home offices, business computers, and so much more. Check out our bulk Ethernet cables to help successfully connect multiple computers across different rooms and locations. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.
